Sequentially paced heterotopic heart transplant in the left chest provides improved circulatory support for the failed left ventricle. A potential biologic bridge to orthotopic transplantation.

Acute experimental transplantation of an allograft heart in a heterotopic position was performed in 14 sheep. The donor heart was implanted in the left side of the chest with left atrial, aortic, and pulmonary artery anastomoses. Hemodynamic studies were performed to evaluate the physiologic effects of the procedure, particularly when recipient left ventricular failure was produced by inflow and outflow obstruction. Pacing techniques were developed and tested to coordinate the rhythm of the two hearts either synchronously or sequentially with variable intervals between depolarization of the two hearts. Hemodynamic studies were performed to evaluate the rhythm that would most optimize the physiology. The cardiac index remained essentially unchanged when the dominant circulatory support was shifted from recipient left ventricle to donor left ventricle by producing recipient left ventricular failure (3.79 +/- 0.6 to 3.30 +/- 0.8, p = no significant difference). Consistent and reliable paced rhythms were achieved in each case. The cardiac index was significantly higher when the hearts were paced sequentially rather than synchronously (3.76 +/- 0.5 versus 3.29 +/- 0.5, p less than 0.04). Allograft donor hearts small in size or slightly inadequate otherwise, which may be unsuitable for orthotopic heart transplantation, may still be used heterotopically for short-term support. Their use would maximize the use of all donor organs and the survival of patients awaiting a suitable organ. Further, it may also be possible to use sequentially paced xenografts heterotopically for short-term left ventricular assistance as a bridge to orthotopic heart transplantation.